Mr. Salaheddine MEZOUAR, Minister of Economy and Finance, received Mr. Juan José DABOUB, Director General of the World Bank, accompanied by Mrs. Daniela GRESSANI, Vice-President for the Middle-East and North Africa Region at the World Bank, on Friday 23rd January 2009 at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
During the meeting, Mr. MEZOUAR and Mr. DABOUB expressed their mutual satisfaction at the quality of the cooperation between Morocco and the World Bank, the World Bank being a privileged partner in the economic and social development of Morocco.
In this respect, Mr. MEZOUAR underlined the good progress of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the 2005-2009 period, the implementation of which has until now centred on some twelve projects for an overall amount in excess of $ 1.2 billion, relating to reform programmes as well as to investment programmes.
During the meeting, Mr. MEZOUAR expressed some reservations as to the content of some of the World Bank`s publications (Doing Business, MENA Report, World Economy Prospects ?) which do not objectively reflect the real progress made by Morocco. Mr. MEZOUAR urged the World Bank to take the necessary steps to address this issue without delay. As to human development, Mr. MEZOUAR called upon the World Bank to support Morocco in the implementation of its health and education strategy, as well as in the implementation of the 2nd phase of the National Initiative for Human Development. Furthermore, Mr. MEZOUAR called upon the Bank to continue supporting reform programmes initiated by Morocco in the sectors of energy and water.
As to the elaboration of the next ?Country Partnership Strategy? due to begin in 2010, Mr. MEZOUAR stressed the necessity of adopting a participatory and cooperative approach to elaborate this strategy, so as to better respond to national and international contexts.
Mr. MEZOUAR underlined the very difficult international environment, affected by a protracted financial crisis, and urged the World Bank to lend its support to intermediate-income countries, and notably the countries of the MENA region, by assisting activity sectors geared toward export.
Mr. MEZOUAR suggested that the World Bank use innovative financial tools to help intermediate-income countries face the current crisis, by providing greater support to small and medium size businesses, by providing guarantees to enable these businesses to raise funds at affordable rates, and by pooling World Bank resources with concessional resources.
MR. DABOUB for his part assured Mr. MEZOUAR that the World Bank is determined to increase the support it lends to Morocco`s economic and social development.
Finally, the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Director General of the World Bank expressed their mutual determination to join efforts to strengthen the cooperation between Morocco and the World Bank.